A brutal attack by armed groups in Kenscoff, a commune near Pétion-Ville, Haiti, has left nearly 150 people dead and over 100 homes burned to the ground, according to a preliminary report by the Fondation Je Klere (FJKL), a Haitian human rights organization. The foundation condemned the massacre as a “preventable tragedy,” accusing Haitian authorities of systemic negligence and failure to protect civilians amid escalating gang violence.
‘A Preventable Tragedy’: FJKL Condemns Government Inaction
The FJKL’s report, released Wednesday, describes the assault as a “massacre” fueled by the “negligence and cynicism” of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and other government bodies. Survivors recounted hours of terror as armed groups stormed the area, executing residents and torching homes. The foundation argued that the violence could have been averted with proactive security measures, blaming the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry, and police leadership for “inaction and lack of political will.”
“Neglect allowed criminals to ravage Kenscoff,” an FJKL spokesperson said. “Authorities knew armed gangs were gaining power but chose indifference over intervention.”
Survivors Describe ‘Unbearable’ Violence
Displaced families, now sheltering in makeshift camps, shared harrowing accounts of the attack. “They shot anyone they saw and burned everything,” said one survivor, who requested anonymity. “We fled with nothing but our lives.” Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by Haiti’s protracted humanitarian crisis, lack resources to treat the injured or bury the dead.
The FJKL emphasized the urgent need for medical and psychological support for survivors, as well as aid for thousands displaced by the destruction.
Broader Crisis of Governance and Security
The Kenscoff massacre underscores Haiti’s spiraling security crisis, with armed gangs increasingly dominating metropolitan Port-au-Prince and beyond. Analysts cite weak governance, corruption, and a lack of coordination among security forces as key drivers of the chaos.
Human rights advocates warn that the CPT, tasked with stabilizing Haiti after the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, has failed to curb gang influence or restore public trust. “The state is absent,” said a Port-au-Prince-based activist. “Gangs act with impunity while civilians pay the price.”
Calls for Immediate Aid and Accountability
The FJKL demanded urgent government action to assist victims, rebuild destroyed communities, and prosecute perpetrators. It also called for international support to address Haiti’s “systemic collapse,” urging global leaders to prioritize humanitarian aid and pressure Haitian officials to enact reforms.
“Kenscoff is a wake-up call,” the FJKL spokesperson said. “Without accountability and a clear security strategy, Haiti will descend further into bloodshed.”
